In Rochester, the Career and Technical Education Center at Heintz, or CTECH, is an educational facility open to high school and college students. It offers students multiple opportunities to become more engaged and interested in their education.

After having spent time as a middle school, high school, and district administrator I simply couldn’t be happier to be a part of the CTECH team. The opportunity to design and develop unique, career-based learning opportunities for students alongside a group of dedicated adults who put student interests first is one I am thankful for each and every day. My experience at CTECH has opened my eyes to the many opportunities available to students after high school, whether that be the workforce, apprenticeship, technical college, or 4-year University. Regardless of which pathway a student selects, it is our goal at CTECH to provide them with Purpose, Professional Skills, and a Competitive Advantage.

Brandon Macrafic

Molly Kappers

I have a passion for agriculture and for teaching the next generation about our food system, animal care and the resources we depend on to live our daily lives. Growing up in agriculture, this pathway was a natural choice for me. Agriculture is so diverse and necessary, I truly enjoy training tomorrow’s leaders for an industry that employs over 21 million people in the US. Teaching at CTECH is such a unique opportunity because we are preparing students to enter rapidly growing fields of employment. One of my favorite things about teaching at CTECH are the students, they have a strong interest and excitement about gaining specific skills to further their path to employment. CTECH courses are extremely hands on while still being rigorous, students are learning industry-specific skills that allow them to easily transition into either the workforce or further education.

Beverly Babcock

John Bartucz

The thing I love most about teaching Computer Science and Information Technology are the moments when someone who thinks they are "not techy" finds something that really excites them and has the opportunity to run with it. All of the CS/IT classes are project-based so that every student can learn at their own pace and also push themselves to new levels. This is also why I love teaching at CTECH. Instead of learning by rote and memorization, students are taught how to use professional tools to pursue their own learning. CTECH gives the students the opportunity to really take ownership of their learning and the result is a much deeper understanding of both the academic curriculum as well as all the surrounding skills that will make them successful in the future.

Doug Batzlaff

I enjoy teaching the Construction Trades pathway because the practical experience students engage in, the building codes we discuss and learn, and the guest educators we host are all directly related to the construction industry and beneficial for future employment. One of the most enjoyable benefits of teaching at CTECH is the level of student maturity. It seems as though when high school students attend classes at CTECH they conduct themselves more like post-secondary students. This improves both the quality of teaching and learning.

Matthew Drucker

I truly enjoy watching students in the Project Lead the Way Engineering classes wrestle with real world problems and I love seeing the creative solutions they generate. The imagination and high level thinking that students employ in engineering is amazing. I love the fact that CTECH brings students together from all over and around Rochester.

CTECH is a dream come true for me because every day I experience and observe the way it promotes true passion and individuality in every student and staff member by driving purpose, competitive advantage and professional skills in our lives. I love the Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide pathway because it gives students an opportunity to engage with multiple healthcare settings and allows students to experience individual success. The curriculum builds a bridge to numerous occupations by exposing students to basic nursing care knowledge.

I enjoy teaching in the area of Health Sciences for so many reasons. I am able to assist our learners make connections with teammates, amazing professionals, their selves, and their lives. Learning in the Health Sciences pathways helps students cultivate empathy and compassion for others, especially when learning about diseases/disorders and participating in simulation experiences. I also view it as an amazing gift to be able to assist our learners to reflect on gratitude and how important their presence is every day. At CTECH learners explore areas of interest, establish meaningful relationships, and learn through hands on experiences. I am reminded daily of the amazing community we are fortunate to reside in by witnessing the willingness of so many professionals to be mentors to our students. It is a joy to be a part of CTECH.

I enjoy the Manufacturing pathway at CTECH because the courses are hands on and allow students to develop real career skills. One of the most satisfying parts of my job is when a student decides on a career plan guided by their experience in our pathway. Graduates from the Manufacturing pathway have gone directly to work for companies in and around the Rochester area and others have gone on to post-secondary training at 2 and 4 year colleges. We put to rest the myth that American manufacturing is dead. Students completing courses and training in the Manufacturing pathway come away with in-demand skills for high wage careers.

Jeff Lunde

Ann Eldredge

CTECH is a unique learning environment where students get to choose their own adventure—whether it’s nursing, welding, engineering, cooking, or, in my case, TEACHING. In the Teaching pathway, you will spend three days a week in a real, live classroom of your choosing—where you get to connect with kids in a meaningful way and possibly even change the lives of those you work with. If hands-on, active learning speaks to you, then this is where you belong... PLUS, upon successful completion of the course, you earn two credits from the University of Minnesota. The Teaching pathway could possibly be the best experience you have in high school. That’s why I love it!